Biomass working group presents findings

About 25 people, including local officials, property owners and interested citizens, attended the first of three of biomass discussions hosted by the Mendocino Woody Biomass Working Group. The presentation was held Tuesday night at the Fort Bragg Library.

The working group has been studying the feasibility of using woody biomass, such as dried or downed trees and plants found on the forest floor, to generate electricity and produce biochar to use as a soil supplement.

WBWG spokeswoman Judy Harwood explained that the discussions are the result of a community survey done in 2010. She said area forests are in desperate need of biomass management because of previous logging practices and fire suppression management.

Harwood said the effort also works toward energy localization, as it would use local renewable energy sources and create value-added products, such as biochar.

However, the collection of biomass and fears of over-utilization, transportation and air pollution also create potential issues. The group has been working since 2007 to find ways to maximize the benefits while minimizing potential threats.

The working group employed Greg Giusti, forests and wildland ecology advisor with University of California Cooperative Extension, to perform an environmental assessment on biomass thinning in coastal forests. Harwood added that the group also started small-scale biomass projects to test the concept.

"We are, by no means, presenting the answers that you are probably looking for," she said. "But we want to present the information we found, based on the literature that's out there, and have a discussion about the next steps to take ... to make sure we're doing this the right way.

Giusti went into great detail about the balance of thinning versus leaving a certain amount of biomass in forests. He said there is no firm percentage that will work in all forests since every area is different and habitats vary.

Two similar meetings took place in Covelo and Ukiah Aug. 21 and 22. Topics included Giusti's presentations, guidelines for talking with foresters, current initiatives, small scale biomass utilization and community discussion.

To learn more about the group and its projects, go to mendofutures.org/biomass.html or call Harwood at 984-8969.